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Iât's the biggest weekend âof the year for college âbasketball, and a University of Scranton graduate is going to be playing a big part in the festivities.

Joe Vaszily, a 1995 grad of the U of S and a university trustee, is refereeing the Women's Final Four in Nashville, Tenn.

A vice president with Goldman Sachs and Company in New York City, and a University President Business Council executive committee member, Vaszily will find out this morning which of the semifinals he's been assigned to work tonight. He is also a referee in the Big East Conference and, last year, he was the alternate official at the Women's Final Four.

Final whistle

Longtime area basketball referee Jim "Red" McAndrew hung up his whistle after more than three decades of running the hardwoods, mostly at the college level for the last decade, but a big award is awaiting McAndrew next month.

McAndrew was recently informed that he will be presented with John Nucatola Award at the College Basketball Officials Association banquet in May in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. That's a pretty big deal considering Nucatola was one of the five founding members of the CBOA, and later was NBA Supervisor of Officials, and a 1978 inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

McAndrew worked 15 consecutive Lynett Memorial Tournaments and refereed in District 2 for 25 years.

From 1993-2013, McAndrew worked college games at all three divisions, getting his start through Mickey Crowley, who worked a pair of Final Fours including the 1989 championship between Michigan and Seton Hall, coached by Scranton Prep alum P.J. Carlesimo.

McAndrew credits his mentor with giving him some advice that helped spawn his 20 years of working college basketball, and now serving as an evaluator for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

"Mickey Crowley told me no college assignors are coming to Scranton to see you ref," McAndrew said. "He told me, 'If you come to my camp your chances are slim and none, but your chances are none if you don't come.' It was the best advice anybody ever gave me."

Contact the writer: mmyers@timesshamrock.com @mmyersTT on Twitter

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